Rotary disk speed control in automatic coin processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a coin processing apparatus having a rotary disk on which coins to be counted or otherwise processed are deposited to be centrifugally sent out one by one into a linear passageway extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom, there is provided a novel coin processing apparatus including a device for changing the speed of rotation of the rotary disk in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited thereon.

United States Patent 1191 Hatanaka et a1.

[451 Jan. 21, 1975 1' ROTARY DISK SPEED CONTROL IN AUTOMATIC COIN PROCESSING APPARATUS [73] Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

l-lyogo-ken, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,546

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 8, 1972 Japan 47-112473 [52] US. Cl 133/8 R [51] int. Cl G07d 9/04, G07d 9/06, G07d 3/16 [58] Field of Search 133/3 A, 3 R, 8 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,240 7/1939 Downey 133/8 R Uchida et a1 133/8 R Hatanaka et al .1 133/3 A Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavid A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth. Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT In a coin processing apparatus having a rotary disk on which coins to be counted or otherwise processed are deposited to be centrifugally sent out one by one into a linear passageway extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom, there is provided a novel coin processing apparatus including a device for changing the speed of rotation of the rotary disk in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited thereon.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatus for processing coins of various denominations (hereinafter generally referred to as a coin processing apparatus) such as a coin counting apparatus and/or a coin wrapping apparatus for wrapping up coins in neat stacks. More specifically, the invention is directed to a coin processing apparatus including a device for changing the speed of rotation of a rotary disk in such coin processing apparatus in accordance with the denominations or diameters of the coins to be processed.

In the coin processing apparatus of this type, the coins to be counted or otherwise processed are first deposited on a rotary disk to be thereby centrifugally fed successively into a linear passageway extending sub stantially radially outwardly therefrom, at the exit end of which passageway is provided means for counting the successive coins. While there is already developed a device for adjusting the width of this coins passageway to the diameter of the coins loaded on the rotary disk through a hopper or the like, the speed of rotation of the rotary disk in the prior art apparatus is held unchanged regardless of the various diameters of coins to be loaded thereon. Hence, in the case where coins of widely changing diameters must be handled by one and the same apparatus (for example, in Denmark where coins ranging from to 33 millimeters in diameter are in circulation), it has been difficult to effect smooth transfer of the coins of certain diameters from the ro tary disk on to the passageway without jamming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the noted difficulties of the prior art, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel coin processing apparatus including device for changing the speed of rotation of a rotary disk in a coin processing apparatus to the most appropriate speed in accordance with the diameter of coins to be processed, so that coins of any preselected diameter can be fed smoothly from the rotary disk on to a coin passageway extending outwardly therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which includes means for automatically readjusting the speed of the motor of the coin processing apparatus substantially to a constant value in the event of a change in the load whereby the rotary disk can run at its predetermined optimum speed regardless of the number of coins placed thereon.

With these objects in view and the other objects hereinafter made apparent, this invention provides a device which, summarized in the broadest aspects of the invention, includes a drive circuit for feeding a motor adapted to impart rotation to the rotary disk of a coin processing apparatus, the drive circuit including an element controlled by an electric signal to regulate the flow of current from a power source to the motor. The device further includes a motor speed control circuit comprising means for producing the said electric signal, and means for changing the frequency of this signal in accordance with the diameter of coins deposited on the rotary disk.

The features which are believed to be novel and characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and mode of operation, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the two figures of which like reference characters designate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the essential parts of a prior art coin processing apparatus to which this invention is directed; and

FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the invention as adapted specifically for the coin processing apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is hereinafter described more specifically as adapted for a counting apparatus and/or a coin wrapping apparatus of well known construction illustrated by way of example in FIG. I. The illustrated prior art apparatus includes a rotary disk 1 fixedly mounted on a revolvable shaft 2 which is geared at 3 to the output shaft of a motor 4. A stationary coin guide 5 extends substantially radially outwardly from the rotary disk 1, and a horizontally movable coin guide 7 extends in parallel spaced relationship to the stationary coin guide 5 to define a coin passageway 8 therebetween. The width of this coin passageway is adjustable in conformity with the diameters of coins 6 deposited on the rotary disk I, as hereinafter described in more detail.

Thus, as the disk 1 rotates, the coins 6 are centrifugally sent out into the coin passageway 8 one by one and thence into a vertical channel 9 through a convenyor belt now shown in the drawing. The channel 9 is adapted to direct the successive coins into a coin wrapping section, also not shown, where each prescribed number of the coins are wrapped up as with cellophane wrapper.

At the exit end of the coin passageway 8 there is provided counting means generally designated by the numeral 10. This counting means includes a counting disk 12 fixedly mounted on a revolvable shaft 11 so as to be on a level with the coins 6 being fed along the passageway 8. A plurality of semicircular recesses 13 are formed on the periphery of the counting disk 12 at a constant pitch for engagement with the successive coins being sent out of the passageway 8 into the channel 9. Thus, as the counting disk 12 is revolved through a predetermined angle with the exit of each coin out of the passageway 8, the shaft 11 is turned through the same angle to actuate a counter, not shown, operatively connected thereto. A disk 14 of rubber or like resilient material is urged against the recessed periphery of the counting disk 12 in order to prevent its free rotation.

A knurled knob 15 functions as hereinafter set forth to adjust the diameter of the coin passageway 8 to the varied diameters of coins to be loaded into the coin wrapping apparatus and to correspondingly modify the speed of the motor 4. A shaft 16 on which the knob 15 is mounted is coupled to another shaft 18 as through bevel gearing l7, and a disk 20 is fixedly mounted at the upper end of the shaft 18, the disk 20 having a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced pins 19 extending downwardly from its lower face for engagement with the teenth 24 of a star wheel 23. Also mounted on the shaft 18 is a selector switch 21, which may be a rotary switch of well known construction, adapted to change the speed of the motor 4.

The aforesaid star wheel 23 is fixedly mounted at the upper end of a shaft 22 to the lower end of which is eccentrically affixed a cam wheel 25 of polygonal shape abutting against the horizontally movable coin guide 7 to adjust the width of the passageway 8. Although not shown in the drawing, it is assumed that the movable coin guide 7 is yieldably urged against the cam wheel 25 as by means of springs.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the electrical circuitry for adjustably changing the speed of the motor by the turning of the knob 15 in conformity with the diameter of the coins 6, and therefore with the width of the coin passageway 8, according to the novel concepts of this invention. As illustrated, a bidirectional thyristor 26 is connected across the two terminals of an AC power supply system E via the aforesaid motor 4 which in practice may take the form of a capacitor motor. Capacitors 27, 28 and 29, resistance 30, and windings 31 and 32 constitute in combination a surge absorber circuit for the bidirectional thyristor 26.

The anode and cathode of the bidirectional thyristor 26 are connected via a resistance 34 to one pair of opposite junctions, respectively, of a full-wave rectifier 36 which functions substantially as a power supply for a motor speed control circuit generally labeled 35. This motor speed control circuit is essentially in the form of a pulse signal generator having a unijunction transistor 37, as its principal component, across the two bases of which are connected a resistance 38, variable resistors 39, 40 and 41 and the primary winding of a pulse transformer 42. The three variable resistors 39, 40 and 41 are connected to contact points 43, 44 and 45, respectively, of the selector switch 21 adapted to be operated by the knob 15 of the coin wrapping apparatus as previously mentioned with reference to FIG. 1. The contact points 43, 44 and 45 of the selector switch 21 are connected commonly to normally closed contact points 46 and thence to normally open contact points 47.

The normally closed contact points 46 are opened by a relay, not shown, each time a prescribed number of the coins 6 are counted by the counting means shown in FIG. 1, whereas the normally open contact points 47 are closed by a relay, also not shown, when the coin wrapping apparatus is first set in operation. The normally open contact points 47 are connected to the emitter of the above mentioned unijunction transistor 37 via a capacitor 48, resistance 49 and diode 50. A capacitor 51 is connected between the emitter of the unijunction transistor 37 and one extremity of the primary of the pulse transformer 42, and the other pair of junctions of the aforesaid full-wave rectifier 36 is connected between the capacitor 51 and the resistance 38. An avalanche diode 52 is connected across the said other pair of junctions of the full-wave rectifier 36.

A tachometer generator shown at 53 is assumed to be operatively coupled to the motor 4 and, as seen in the circuit diagram, is connected across one pair of opposite junction of a second full-wave rectifier 54. The capacitor 48 is connected across the other pair of junctions of this second rectifier via resistances 55 and 56.

The operation of the circuit of FIG. 2, illustrated by way of a preferred embodiment of the invention, is hereinafter described with relation to that of the coin wrapping apparatus of FIG. 1. As the knob is turned to a specified angular position as dictated by the denomination of the coins 6 deposited upon the rotary disk 1, the shaft 18 is revolved through a predetermined angle by the bevel gearing 17. The rotation of this shaft 18 is transmitted to the other shaft 22 through the disk having the downwardly extending pins 19 and the star wheel 24 in mesh therewith, with the result that the cam wheel eccentrically mounted on the shaft 22 is turned with its polygonal periphery in sliding contact with the movable coin guide 7 thereby causing the same to move horizontally either away from or toward the stationary coin guide 5. The width of the coin passageway 8 is thus adjusted to the diameter of the coins 6 in accordance with the prior art.

According to this invention, the rotation of the shaft 18 results in the closure of that one of the contact points 43, 44 and 45 of the selector switch 21 which corresponds to the denomination of the coins 6. If then the coin wrapping apparatus is set on operation, the aforementioned relay will function to close the normally open contact points 47. As a consequence, the motor speed control circuit becomes operative to deliver a pulse signal to the pulse transformer 42. It will be understood that the pulse repetition rate of this pulse signal is determined by the time constant circuit consisting of the variable resistors 39 to 41 and the ca pacitor 51. For example, in the case where the contact points 43 are closed, the signal with the highest pulse repetition rate will be applied to the pulse transformer 42 to cause the motor 4 to run at its highest predetermined speed. The pulse signal is delivered from the secondary winding of the pulse transformer 42 to the gate electrode of the bidirectional thyristor 26 to initiate conduction therethrough in both directions, so that the motor 4 starts rotating at a speed corresponding to the closed contact points of the contact points 39, and 41 of the selector switch 21.

The rotation of the motor 4 is imparted to the rotary disk 1 through the gearing 3 and the shaft 2, as will be seen from FIG. 1, and the coins which have been deposited on this rotary disk through a hopper or the like are centrifugally sent out successively into the passageway 8. The coins are transported along the passageway by the endless belt, not shown, driven by the motor 4 and are directed down into the channel 9, each after turning the counting disk 12 through the prescribed angle.

When too great or too small a number of coins are deposited upon the rotary disk 1 through the hopper or the like, the speed of the motor 4 will change in accordance with the varied load imposed thereon via the shaft 2 and the gearing 3. This change in the speed of the motor 4 results in a corresponding change in the output voltage of the tachometer generator 53 coupled to the motor, and the correspondingly changed output voltage of the tachometer generator is delivered to the capacitor 48 via the second full-wave rectifier 54. The resulting change in the charging period of the capacitor 48 correspondingly affects the charging period of the other capacitor 51. Hence, in the event of an increase in the load on the motor 4, the pulse repetition rate of the pulse signal delivered to the pulse transformer 42 and thence to the bidirectional thyristor 26 becomes higher to cause the motor to run at a faster speed. On the other hand, in the event of a decrease in the load on the motor 4, the pulse repetition rate of the pulse signal becomes lower to cause the motor to run at a slower speed. It will therefore be apparent that the motor speed is automatically readjusted to a substantially constant value in spite of load fluctuations.

Further, according to the circuit arrangement of FIG. 2, the normally closed contact points 46 are opened as aforesaid each time a specified number of the coins are counted the counting means at the exit end of the coin passageway 8. The pulse signal from the motor speed control circuit 35 is then no longer impressed on the gate electrode of the bidirectional thyristor 26, so that the rotation of the motor 4 is suspended to prevent the delivery of any more coins into the channel 9.

Although the invention has been shown and described hereinbefore in terms of preferred embodiment thereof as adapted specifically for a counting apparatus and/or a coin wrapping apparatus of well known construction, it is to be understood that the invention itself is not to be restricted by the exact showing of the drawings and the description thereof. For example, the speed of the motor 4 and therefore of the rotary disk 1 may be selected not by the knob but by other means provided exclusively for this purpose. It is also possible operate the motor at a constant speed and, by using a mechanical speed-changing mechanism, to vary the rotational speed of the rotary disk. It is also possible to change the speed of the rotary disk not for each different denomination of coins but fur each different class of coins including those in a preselected range of diameters. All such modifications, substitutions and changes are intended in the foregoing disclosure.

What we claim is:

l. A coin processing apparatus having: a rotary disk for continuously sending out coins; a coin passageway for alining in a row and transferring the coins thus sent out from the rotary disk; driving means for rotating the rotary disk; speed-changing means connected to the rotary disk and driving means and operating to change the rotational speed of the rotary disk; and selection means for selecting the rotational speed of the rotary disk in accordance with the kind of coin, and characterized in that the rotational speed of the rotary disk is caused to be a coin sending-out speed in accordance with the kind of coin.

2. In a coin processing apparatus of the type including a rotary disk on which coins to be processed are deposited, a coin passageway extending substantially radially outwardly from said rotary disk such that said coins are centrifugally sent out into said coin passageway from said rotary disk one by one, and an electric motor adapted to impart rotation to said rotary disk, a device for changing the speed of rotation of said rotary disk in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited thereon, said device comprising:

a drive circuit for driving said motor, said drive circuit comprising a power supply connected to said motor and an element controlled by an external signal to regulate the flow of current from said power supply to said motor; and

a motor speed control circuit for supplying said signal to said element of said drive circuit in order to control the speed of said motor, said motor speed control circuit comprising means for producing said signal, and means for changing the frequency of said signal in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited on said rotary disk.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, further including a motor speed adjusting circuit connected to said motor speed control circuit for automatically readjusting the speed of said motor substantially to a constant value in the event of a change in the load on said motor, said motor speed adjusting circuit comprising a tachometer generator driven by said motor, and means responsive to a change in the output voltage from said tachometer generator to correspondingly change the frequency of said signal delivered from said motor speed control circuit to said element of said drive circuit.

4. In a coin processing apparatus of the type including a rotary disk on which coins to be processed are deposited, a coin passageway extending substantially radially outwardly from said rotary disk such that said coins are centrifugally sent out into said coin passageway from said rotary disk one by one manually operable means for adjusting the width of said coin passageway in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited on said rotary disk, and an electric motor for imparting rotation to said rotary disk, a device for changing the speed of rotation of said rotary disk in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited thereon with relation to the width of said coin passageway, said device comprising:

a drive circuit for driving said motor, said drive circuit comprising a power supply connected to said motor and an element controlled by an external signal to regulate the flow of current from said power supply to said motor; and

a motor speed control circuit for supplying said signal to said element of said drive circuit, in order to control the speed of said motor, said motor speed control circuit comprising means for producing said signal, and means operated by said manually operable means to change the frequency of said signal whereby the speed of rotation of said rotary disk and the width of said coin passageway are simultaneously adjusted in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited on said rotary disk. 

1. A coin processing apparatus having: a rotary disk for continuously sending out coins; a coin passageway for alining in a row and transferring the coins thus sent out from the rotary disk; driving means for rotating the rotary disk; speed-changing means connected to the rotary disk and driving means and operating to change the rotational speed of the rotary disk; and selection means for selecting the rotational speed of the rotary disk in accordance with the kind of coin, and characterized in that the rotational speed of the rotary disk is caused to be a coin sending-out speed in accordance with the kind of coin.
 2. In a coin processing apparatus of the type including a rotary disk on which coins to be processed are deposited, a coin passageway extending substantially radially outwardly from said rotary disk such that said coins are centrifugally sent out into said coin passageway from said rotary disk one by one, and an electric motor adapted to impart rotation to said rotary disk, a device for changing the speed of rotation of said rotary disk in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited thereon, said device comprising: a drive circuit for driving said motor, said drive circuit comprising a power supply connected to said motor and an element controlled by an external signal to regualte the flow of current from said power supply to said motor; and a motor speed control circuit for supplying said signal to said element of said drive circuit in order to control the speed of said motor, said motor speed control circuit comprising means for producing said signal, and means for changing the frequency of said signal in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited on said rotary disk.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2, further including a motor speed adjusting circuit connected to said motor speed control circuit for automatically readjusting the speed of said motor substantially to a constant value in the event of a change in the load on said motor, said motor speed adjusting circuit comprising a tachometer generator driven by said motor, and means responsive to a change in the output voltage from said tachometer generator to correspondingly change the frequency of said signal delivered from said motor speed control circuit to said element of said drive circuit.
 4. In a coin processing apparatus of the type including a rotary disk on which coins to be processed are deposited, a coin passageway extending substantially radially outwardly from said rotary disk such that said coins are centrifugally sent out into said coin passageway from said rotary disk one by one manually operable means for adjusting the width of said coin passageway in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited on said rotary disk, and an electric motor for imparting rotation to said rotary disk, a device for changing the speed of rotation of said rotary disk in accordance with the diameters of the coins deposited thereon with relation to the width of said coin passageway, said device comprising: a drive circuit for driving said motor, said drive circuit comprising a power supply connected to said motor and an element controlled by an external signal to regulate the flow of current from said power supply to said motor; and a motor speed control circuit for supplying said signal to said element of said drive circuit, in order to control the speed of said motor, said motor speed control circuit comprising means for producing said signal, and means operated by said manually operable means to change the frequency of said signal whereby the speed of rotation of said rotary disk and the width of said coin passageway are simultaneously adjusted in accordance with the diameter of the coins deposited on said rotary disk. 